Mounting for plural glassware forming neck pins and thimbles



UNITED sTATs PATENT OFFICE :scam

MOUNTING ron nml. -GLAsswAna romnNG Nacx rms AND Timmins Walter l. Berthold, Rockville, Conn., assigner to Hartford-nnpire Company, Hartford, Conn., a corporation of Delaware Application February 17, 1941, `Serial No. 379,275

7 Claims. (Cl. lll-76) The invention relates generally to the manufacture of glassware and more particularly to the neck pin and thimble mechanism of a glassware forming machine.

An object of the invention is to provide a simple, reliable and eillcient mechanism for mounting and operatively supporting a plurality of adjacent neck pins or plungers and their thimbles suitably for simultaneous or concurrent use of these elements in the formation of the neck portions of a plurality of articles of glassware.

A further object of the invention is to provide a mounting for a plurality of neck pins and their thimbles so constructed and arranged that the ings Il in the oppositely disposed wing portions I! of a substantially horizontal plate-like member 20. The member 20 is carried by a vertically movable tubular carrier 2l, being secured rigidly pins are capable of horizontal floating movements thereon, as byeap SCreWS aS indicated at 22 in relative to their thimbles during the assembly of Fig. 2. The vertical carrier 2 i, like the carrier several neck pins and their respective thimbles I4 may comprise a plurality of aligned vertical and thereafter each neck pin and its thimble may sections. As shown, carrier 2| has an upper sec- .have a horizontal iioating movement as a unit tion on which the plate 2li is directly supported relative to their supporting structure and to each and a vertically aligned cylindrical lower section other neck pin and thimble unit. 22 connected with the upper section by a coupling A further object of the invention is to provide 23 of the split ring tyDe- The Carrier fOr the a mechanism .of the character described which thimbles serves as an upright cylindrical guide fOr will aord facilities for supplying air under presthe carrier for the neck pins- As ShOWIl. the sure from a common source to the several neck 25 carrier for the neck pins has a portion 0f the pin and thimble units of the mechanism, as for section' I6 thereof slightly enlarged peripherally, counterblowing the glass parisons which have as at I6a, to fit CIOSely, althllgh Slidably, in a been partially formed by the use of these units.` portion indicated at 22a of the section 22 of the Other objects and advantages of the invention carrier for the thimbles. These DOItiOIlS 0f the hereinafter will be pointed out or will become aptwo Carriers may be provided with a means for parent from the following description of a pracpreventingr leakage of air between them, as by tical embodiment of the invention, as shown in providing piston rings 24 On the DOltOn lia 0f the accompanying drawing, in which: the inner carrier. The outer carrier also serves Figure 1 is a fragmentary vertical section, to retain the parts of the split coupling ring I5 taken substantially along the line I-I of Fig. 3, in place during relative vertical movements beshowing a pair of neck pins and their thimbles tween these Carriers. and a mounting therefor in accordance with the The outer carrier is mounted for vertical represent invention; ciprocation in a casing which may comprise a Fig, 2 is a view similar to Fig, 1 but, at `a plane substantially cylindrical lower section 25 and a at a right angle therewith, the section being taken hollow upper or head section 26, secured detach- Substantially along the line 2 .2 of Fig, 3; and ably to the lower section 25, as by a bayonet joint Fig 3 is a partial plan and partial Seaman of 21 and a retaining nut 28. The cylindrical lower the structure shown in the preceding views, the Section 25 0f this Casing may have a DOItiOn section being substantially along-the line indithereof reduced in diameter, as at 29, Fiss. 1 and cated at 2-3 of Fig. 1. 45 2, to provide a close sliding iit with the lowerv A mechanism embodying the present invention, section 22 of the carrier for the thimbles. The as `shown in the drawing, includes a pair of neck casing 25-26 may rest in a suitably apertured pins III and their thimbles Il. As best seen in frame structurey al DOItiOn 0f Which iS Shown Fig. l, each neck pin Ill has a relatively enlarged at 30. This outer casing also serves to retain substantially cylindrical base portion Ilia prothe sections of the split coupling 23 in place. vided with a flat bottom. surface resting upon the The casing 25-26 may be provided at its upper ilat upper surface of a laterally extending wing end with a top plate 3|, secured in place by cap portion I2 of the head I2 of a rod-like vertical screws 32, and provided with openings at 33 carrier I4. The rod-like vertical carrier I4 may through which the thimbles amena comprise a plurality of aligned sections, detach- The structural features of the invention which permit the iloating movements ofthe neck Pins and thimbles previously mentioned will now be pointed out. The wing` portions I2 voi' the head of the vertical carrier for the neck pins are provided with vertical openings 34. Each of these openings 34 is in substantially axial alignment with one of the openings I8 in the plate 20 and with one of the openings 33 in the casing top plate 3l. A stud 3l has its body portion located in one of the openings 34 when the threaded upper endportion 33a of this stud has been screwed into a threaded axialopening 38 in the lower or base portion of one of the neck pins. When such neck pin and the opening 34 are axially aligned, thebody of the stud 35 is spaced from the wall of the opening 34 lby an annular space of appreciable radial extent, asNindicated at 31 in Figs. 1 and 3. A concavo-convex spring washer 38 may be placed on a reduced lower end portion 35h of the stud and pressed at its-peripheral edge against the bottom surface of the head I3 by a nut 38 on the lower end portion of the stud. The spring action of the washer 38 may serve to hold the base of the neck pin against the upper surface of the head I3 firmly but yieldingly in that the neck pin may be shifted or float horizontally on the head of its carrier under lateral pressure. This may serve lIwo purposes as presently will be explained.

The thimble II associated with each neck pin has its bore enlarged from its lower endl upward for part of its height, as at 40, Fig. 1, so as to have a close sliding llt with the relatively enlarged base portion Illa of the neck pin The flanged lower end IIa ofthe thimble has a diameter appreciably smaller than that of a counterbore 4I that is formed in the plate 10 at the upper end of each opening I8. An annular space 42 thus is provided around the flanged lower end of each thimble when the latter rests upon one of the shoulders I'I in axial alignment with an underlying opening I8 in the plate 20, all as shown in Fig. 1.

A retaining plate 43 overlies the plate 20 and is provided with a pair of similar openings 44, each of less diameter than the flanged lower end of the associate thimble II but of greater diameter than the underlying opening I 8. These openings 44 aiIord horizontal clearance for the thimbles II when the edge portions of the plate around such openings overlie the flanged lower ends of the thimbles and prevent vertical movement thereof relative to the plate 20. The retaining plate 43 is secured to the plate 28, as by cap screws indicated at 45 in Fig. 2. The arrangement is such that each thimble is retainedrmly in place on its carrier but, under lateral pressure, may have limited lateral or horizontal floating movements relative to its carrier. The openings 33 in the casing top member 3| are sufllciently l-arger than the thimbles to permit such lateral floating movements.

The provisions above described permit each neck pin to move slightly in any horizontal direction relative to its carrier. This movement may be relative to its thimble II during the assembly of a neck pin on its carrier and a thimble on its carrier. Thereafter, the close sliding t of the lower or base portion of the neck pin with the internally enlarged lower portion of the thimble will prevent relative horizontal movements between these parts but both may float horizontally as a unit relative to their carriers.

These capabilities of relative horizontal movements between the neck pin and its thimble during assembly and between each neck pin and its thimble as a unit and the other neck pin and thimble as a unit permit these glassware neck forming elements to be accurately aligned with the glass receiving and forming cavities of each of a plurality of generally similar glass parison molds with which `such neck pins and their thimbles may be used at different times, even though slight differences may exist between the several parison molds as to the distance between the vertical axes of their cavities. Also, the several neck pin and thimble units will be self-adjusting as to their horizontal spacing to be properly aligned with twin cavities of the same parison mold .with which such units are used even if wear on the mold .parts or on their supporting structures would otherwise impair such alignment.

The carrier for the neck pins may be provided with a central bore 48.v This bore is closed at its upper end b y a portion of the head I3 but communicates through lateral passages 41 in the wing portions I2 of such head with the spaces 31 which surround the studs.35 by which the neck pins are secured to the head I3. These spaces 31 are closed at their bottoms by the aforesaid spring washers 38 but are in open communication at their upper ends with radial passages 48 in the lower portion of the neck pin. These radial passages 48 in turn communicate with upwardly extending passages 43 which open through the outer wall of the neck pin at the `iuncture of the relatively enlarged lower portion thereof with its upper portion, as shown in Fig. 1. In practice, air under pressure for use in a glass forming operation, as to counterblow the glass in the cooperative cavity of the aforesaid parison mold may be supplied through the bore 4B to the neck pins and thence through the space between each neck pin and its thimble into and through the bore of the latter into the neck portion of the glass in the associate parison mold. This counterblowing operation may be timed to take place after or on downward retraction of the neck pins. The carrier for the neck pins may be moved -vertically at the times and to the extent dei pose of effecting such movements of this carrier, any suitable mechanism may be employed. However, I prefer to use an operating mechanism such as that disclosed in Fig. 15 of a patent to H. W. Ingle, 1,911,119 of March 23, 1933, for effecting vertical movements of the vertical member |65 of the structure there shown. Also, any suitable known mechanism may be employed for effecting desired vertical movements of the carrier for the thimbles but I prefer to use for this purpose a structure substantially like that shown in Fig. 15 of the aforesaid Ingle Patent 1,911,119, for effecting vertical reciprocation, of the member |38 of the structure therein shown. The carriers for the neck pins and thimbles, respectively, may be moved in unison or the carrier for the neck pins may be moved downwardly in advance of the carrier for the thimbles. The carrier for the thimbles may be moved upwardly from downwardly retracted position in advance of the carrier for the neck pins, if desired.

The invention is not limited to the exact details shown in the drawing and herein described as various changes therein and modifications thereof may be made by those skilled in the art.

I claim: i

1. In a mechanism for mounting and movably supporting a plurality of neck pins and a like number of thimbles for cooperating with said neck pins, a vertically movable carrier for said neck pins, means for fastening said neck pins to said carrier to move in unison therewith and to permit limited lateral movement under pressure of each neck pin relative to said carrier, a second vertically movable carrier for said thimbles, and means for fastening said thimbles to said second named carrier to dispose each thimble in adjacent cooperative relation with a neck pin and to cause said thimbles to move vertically with the second named carrier and to permit limited lateral movement of each thimble under pressure relative to the second named carrier. i

2. A mechanism for mounting and movably supporting a plurality of glassware neck forming units, each comprising a neck pin and a cooperative thimble surrounding the neck pin, vertically movable supporting means for said units, and means for connecting said units with said vertically Vmovable supporting means to move vertically in unison therewith and to have limited independent lateral movements under pressure relative to each other and to said supporting means. i

3. A mechanism for mounting `and movably t supporting a plurality of glassware neck forming units, each comprising a neck pin and a cooperative thimble, comprising a vertically movable carrier for the neck pins, means for ysecuring the neck pins in place on said carrier to move in unison therewith, a vertically movable carrier for the thimbles, and means for securing the thimbles in place on said second named carrier so that each thimble surrounds a neck pin, said first named carrier having a passage for receiving uid under pressure from a source of supply and branch passages communicating with spaces between the associate cooperative neck pins and thimbles for supplying thereto uid under pressure from said first named passage.

4. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of neck pins, a vertically movable carrier comprising an upright elongate body and a head at the upper end thereof, said head having laterally extending portions respectivly provided with vertical openings corresponding in number with said neck pins, studs fastened to said neck pins and extending through said openings in spaced relation with the walls thereof, and means engaging said studs beneath said head to restrain said neck pins against upward displacement from said head and to permit limited lateral movements of the neck pins relative to the head.

5. In a mechanism of the character described,

-a plurality of neck pins. a vertically movable carrier comprising an upright elongate body and a head at the upper end thereof, said head having laterally extending portions respectively provided with vertical openings corresponding in number with said neck pins, studs fastened to said neck pins and extending .through said openings in spaced relation with the walls thereof, means engaging said studs beneath said head to prevent upward displacement of neck pins from said head and to permit limited lateral movements of the neck pins relative to the head, a thimble surrounding each neck pin, said thimbles having externally ilanged lower end portions, a plate located above the head of said carrier, said plate having openings beneath each thimble loosely accommodating the lower end portion of the neck pins and having counterbores above said openings for supporting the flanged lower end portions of the thimbles, the peripheries of said flanged portions being spaced from the walls of the counterbores, a retaining plate secured on said first named plate and having openings loosely accommodating the bodies of the thimbles and of less diameter than the flanges at the lower ends of the thimbles, the edge portions of the retaining plate around said openings overlying the flanged lower end portions of the thlmbles, and vertically movable means surrounding the body of said first named carrier for movably supporting said plates and said thimbles.

6. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of glassware neck forming units, each comprising a neck pin and a cooperative thimble, vertically movable means carrying said neck pins and said thimbles, and means for connecting said neck pins and said thimbles with said vertically movable means so constructed and arranged as to permit limited relative horizontal movement between each neck pin and its thimble during the assembly of these members to form a unit as aforesaid and thereafter to permit limited relative horizontal moivements between the several neck pin and thimble units.

7. In a mechanism of the character described, a plurality of neck pins, a vertically movable carrier for all of said neck pins, said carrier comprising an upright rod-like member having a substantially flat head including wing portions extending laterally of said rod-like member, said wing portions having vertical openings therein corresponding in number with said neck pins, said neck pins having attaching studs depending through said vertical openings and of sumciently less diameter than said openings to provide annular spaces of substantial extent between the respective studs and the surrounding walls of said openings when the studs are centered in such openings, said neck pins being of greater diameter than said vertical openings at the ends of said neck pins next to said wing portions,

4concave-convex spring washers on said studs beneath said wing portions with the concave surfaces of said washers turned toward such wing portions, and means' 'engaged with the lower end portions of said studs beneath said washers to press the washers into firm contact at their edges with the under surfaces of said wing portions and thereby to pull said neck pins into contact at their lower ends with said wing portions firmly so that said neck pins will be moved vertically with said carrier during vertical movements of the latter and the individual neck pins may have independentV limited lateral movements relative to said carrier in response to lateral pressures on said neck pins.

WALTER K. BERTHOLD. 

